This bill creates a new Office of Prison Education within the Federal Bureau of Prisons to expand and improve educational programs for incarcerated people. The legislation establishes an Assistant Director position to oversee the office and develop the Federal Prison Education Program, which will partner with colleges, vocational schools, nonprofits, and other education providers to offer literacy, high school diplomas, career training, apprenticeships, and post-secondary education to federal inmates. The bill allocates $170 million annually from 2024 through 2030 to fund these programs and requires eligible education providers to contribute at least 25 percent of program costs. The bill also directs the office to serve as a clearinghouse for research on prison education best practices, provide technical assistance to state corrections systems, and coordinate with the Department of Veterans Affairs to help incarcerated veterans access educational benefits. The legislation aims to reduce recidivism by increasing employment opportunities and educational attainment for people reentering their communities after release.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.